Tracking

[MandyPug]

Tell me about it...

Different types, methods to teach it, tips and tricks, what equipment do i need, what would you recommend, whatever you have for me.

I want to try training Izzie and Rio to track but i've never taught it before and I know there's different styles and training methods.

As far as harnesses go, are webmasters adequate? They both have one of those.

Sooo talk to me, folks.

ETA: We're also interested in training the girls to find sheds in the woods too, which i don't know if that may or may not pertain to tracking at all but i thought i'd mention it too.

 

[PWCorgi]

I don't know diddly about tracking, Megan does. Every year we say we're going to track. It never happens. Eternal sadface.

I think Frodo would love tracking...if I could figure it out (aka: find the time to have Megan teach me) and commit to training.

 

[Laurelin]

Sort of related but my dad has been asking if I could train a dog to blood trail deer. I've honestly toyed with training Mia (wouldn't that be funny!) but maybe nextdog since nextdog would be bigger.

 

[Snark]

This is off the top of my head since it's been a few years since I did tracking with Emily - she loved it. We learned using a piece of food every other step to start (straight line, maybe 25 steps) with a jackpot/party at the end.

You'll need a harness (anything comfortable since the dog should be pulling) and long line (usually fairly light, about 30 ft, with a ribbon marking ten feet from the dog), a few flags (for marking the beginning and end of tracks, as well as turns later on - this is for you, not the dog). A favorite toy or food as a reward, and a glove or sock or antler as the search item they have to indicate (either nosing it or sitting or laying down - whatever you want).

Once they get the idea of nose on the ground, you can phase out the food to every second step, then every fourth step, etc. and finally, just a reward at the end. Lengthen the track (50 or 60 yds.), and when successful at that, you can go to aging the track. Walk a line (use a flag near the start and finish so you know where to place the dog, although you don't want the flags right at the start and finish, or the dog will start keying on the flags instead of the scent). Wait 10-15 minutes, then bring the dog out. As the dog gets the idea, keep aging the track - half an hour, hour, two hours, etc. Then you can add a simple turn (with a fresh track), then age it, then add more turns. You'll want to vary the terrain as well, from short grass to tall grass, brush, etc.

Anyway, that's how we started - never competed because back then, there was no venue for mixed breed tracking titles, but we'd go out and play at least once a week. It was Emily's favorite activity.

 

[SpringerLover]

Anything that's comfortable for the dog to wear is fine for learning to track in. Make sure it fits tight enough not to chafe.

The two ways I've taught dogs to track are by teaching articles and then building on that with tall grass (Buzz); or by dropping food into the foot steps on short grass (Bailey). I place a lot of emphasis on teaching a dog what I want articles to mean, and I do that off the track.

Tracking is one of those things that I didn't really understand until I saw it, and then a lot more pieces fit together.